Saving a Scuderia

Still have along way to go but she's driving.

Sorry about the horrible video, its not my forte.

https://youtu.be/nOuStpBPxpE

 

Kevin, still a bit more then bolt on's and paint. Since the wheels, suspension and engine are all good, the body is next.

Our cars are very different then most other sports cars. The outer body panels do not add to torsional rigidity of the car. That's why Micholetto could use very thin and light body panels to get the cars down to the 2450# range for GT racing. But that also means it doesn't take much to move them out of place.

Next step is going over all the body damage and repairing or replacing whatever is not right. The right front fender, radiator cage, and front trunk box is first priority. I have never attempted to repair "ferrari aluminum" but do cut, shape, weld and form aluminum on a daily basis so how much different could it really be...famous last words.

Here is a where I started. Front right side support beam had been fairly crushed in. A friend of mine really saved me by giving me detailed repair instruction used by ferrari to fix these cars. I heated the section in the picture to 350F and used metal shaping hammers, steel blocks, and clamps to reshape the deformed part. This is going to take some time and will need an expert craftsman, so off to a friends shop who has repaired alot of Challenge cars. I hope in a week of two I may have the front end back in shape and full bodywork in place for 1st track test. I don't expect to be anywhere near complete- she wont be pretty (not even one color)but good enough to drive on track.

***If anybody does need to fix a bent body part - Use heat! It is like butter at 350F and becomes much easier to move and shape @ 200F. The heat will prevent cracks from forming and lessens the required force to bend.
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Its that time, can't put it off, my least favorite part of fixing cars-bodywork. The worst damage is the front truck area. I did get very lucky, all of the damage is localized in front of the suspension and did not move the extrusions. There is not much serious damage, but a fair number of expensive parts have been moved, dented, bent or broken. This is the mess I'm starting with. I have purchased some replacement pieces and others I think I save using heat, steel forming shapes, clamps, and a press. According to a magical factory repair bird who tweets techincal information to me on occasion, the alloy can be welded using MIG, ALSI spool (1mm or .040")or TIG. The TIG produces a nicer end product but DEFINITIVELY will destroy any computer left connected to the wiring harness. Key to a good weld is surface preparation and penetration. The bird also chirped gory detail about how to remove rivets and spot welds in order to pull individual panels and extrusions. Better get to it...
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Looking a bit better. This is going to take some time.
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